Socle stone: types, characteristics. Natural stone for facing the plinth

The most popular solution for finishing the facade today is a stone. It can be natural or artificial. However, in order to make a choice, it is first necessary to familiarize yourself with the main varieties of this decoration, as well as to study its characteristics.

The main varieties of natural socle stone

The natural socle stone is presented to consumers in several varieties, among which:

• granite;
• Shell rock;
• sandstone;
• Wild stone.

Slate and quartzite serve as the latter. The most popular today is granite. It has an original exterior design, and the size of the stone is very diverse. It can have the appearance of tiles, the thickness of which starts from 1 cm.

The next most popular is the sandstone. It differs from granite with less strength, and its color design is expressed by sand scale. Dimensions of sandstone can be very different, these are stones and tiles. Shell rock is a stone, which is often used for facing the plinth. It is more reliable and stronger than sandstone, and it can be purchased in the form of thick plates. Sometimes manufacturers offer to sell solid blocks. The shade of this stone is close to yellow. The structure consists of pores, therefore it is not recommended to leave such a base without finishing for a long time.

Shell rock is a stone that must be covered with a protective layer after laying. For this, a simple varnish or primer is usually used. To carry out the described work, you can also apply wild stone. It is realized in the form of plates of different thickness and dimensions. The most common are quartzite and shale, which have a fairly dense structure, due to which the material shows a low susceptibility to climatic and weather conditions.

Such socle natural stone is quite diverse in color, you can find light and dark shades, and on the surface of the veins are visible. Quite often when finishing marble slabs are used. But in some regions they can be deformed, so the external design in this case will be spoiled.

Characteristics of natural agglomerate

Facing the socle with natural stone has one important advantage, which is expressed in naturalness and ecological compatibility. Such materials will not cause harm to human health and the environment. The natural stone is reliable and durable. On the surface it can withstand almost any load. This is ensured by a dense structure.

Of the main advantages of the stone, mention should be made of the absence of fire hazard and a long service life. The only disadvantage is the high cost in comparison with other varieties of finishing materials. If you use a natural stone to finish the plinth, you can clean it with rags and plain water. Cleaning chemicals are not recommended, because they can damage the surface and start the process of destruction of the structure.

Description of granite

Natural granite stone is also quite often used in the finish of the plinth. If we compare it with marble, then the strength in the first case will be 2 times higher. The presence of quartz provides hardness. Stone is grinded and cut using a diamond.

Over time, granite products do not lose their performance and appearance, this is true even when the stone is used in a temperature differential. This finish can withstand severe frosts, as well as heat up to +50 ° C, which is a very important factor when it comes to using the material in the Russian climate.

Why else should you choose granite

Granite stone has excellent performance characteristics. It looks immaculately and retains its original strength for the duration of its use. It is less than marble, subjected to fungal lesions. In the role of another plus one can distinguish fire safety. The material begins to melt only at +700 ° C.

The strength of the material depends on the level of moisture absorption. According to this indicator, granite is far ahead of the rest. Granite is well under the influence of the external environment, various acids and atmospheric precipitation. Freeze and thaw cycles do not affect its performance in any way. Their number can reach several hundred times.

Technical characteristics of granite stone

If you decide to use granite as a material for finishing the socle, you should familiarize yourself with its main technical characteristics, among them, you should always highlight the density. It is 3.17 g / cm ³ . As for the compressive strength, this parameter is 550 kg / cm ² . The bulk density is equivalent to 2.7 g / cm ³ . But the moisture absorption is 0.2%. You may also be interested in frost resistance - it is equal to 25. The abrasion is 1.4 g / cm ² .

Varieties of artificial stone: a material based on cement

The most common type of artificial stone is cement-based material. For production, silicone, rubber or plastic molds are used, in which a solution made of sand, cement, plasticizers and dyes is poured. Sometimes other ingredients are added to the ingredients, which can improve the properties of the products. Depending on which form and dye is used, the appearance of the stone and its texture can mimic natural materials.

Polymer sand stone

If you want to purchase a socle stone, you should pay attention to the composite finishing material, it is made of sand, plasticizers and polymers. In the end, it is possible to get tiles that connect with each other with a lock. On the surface of the socle, the fixation of the products is carried out with the help of screws and a frame. This material is strong and light, and its installation can be combined with insulation.

Flexible stone and clinker tiles

The socle stone can have the appearance of a flexible artificial material. It is a multi-layer composite, which can have the appearance of solid canvases or individual tiles. With the help of glue on the fabric basis, a thin section of rock is applied. Inside is another layer - glue, which is necessary for fixing tiles or cloth on the surface.

In order to protect such products from premature drying, the material is covered with paper. If we compare a flexible artificial stone with other varieties of similar materials, the former have the smallest mass, but they are universal and have excellent resistance to temperature changes.

The socle stone is also made in the form of clinker tiles. By the method of production and appearance, it resembles a stone on a cement basis. However, clay is used in the production of clinker products. In its class, the tiles described have the most outstanding performance characteristics, as well as high cost.

Conclusion

If you still decided not to save on the finish of the house and choose a natural stone, you should know that it is classified also for a variety of surfaces. It can be chopped, ground, polished or rough. More natural looks chopped surface, but with some roughness will be polished base. If you want to make the base shiny, you should choose a polished natural stone.